Inking roller for a printing apparatus or the like



Nov. 24, 1964 J, w s ETAL 3,158,095

INKING ROLLER FOR A PRINTING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE Filed March 12, 1963 INVENTORSI JOHN A. Wes-r and BYWILUAM R. EPPE$ 19-5 dzmukflhhhn r ATTOE VEXS United States Patent John A. West and Wiliiam R. Eppes, Charlotte, N.C., assignors to Idento Label Company, Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Mar. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 264,574 Claims. (Cl. 101367) The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and more particularly to an inking roller for use with a printing apparatus or the like.

Still more particularly, the present invention is particularly concerned with label printing apparatuses which are usually small and wherein the small size of the apparatus limits the size of the inking roller. For example, the inking roller used with a label printing apparatus in widespread use is about four (4) inches long. Present commercial embodiments of these inking rollers for label printing apparatus include a core member which is rotatably mounted on the printing apparatus, a single layer of felt material surrounding the inner core member and adapted to absorb and retain a supply of liquid ink therein to be delivered. to the printing apparatus and an outer fabric cover of woven silk or linen material. Several deficiencies have been encountered in the use of these conventional inking rollers and foremost among such deficiencies are their limited ink capacity.

In this regard, a conventional inking roller of the aforementioned four inch length has a maximum capacity of four ounces of ink without being overloaded. If more ink is forced thereinto, these inking rollers become overloaded and bleed or weep excess ink onto the transfer roll of the printing apparatus which causes inferior and, hence, unacceptable printing. While conventional inking rollers of greater or lesser lengths have a larger or smaller ink capacit, respectively, their ink capacity is also very limited. Consequently, conventional inking rollers have a very short useful life and must be frequently replaced with a new inking roller.

After removal of the inking roller which has depleted its supply of ink from the printing apparatus, it is the usual practice to rework the inking roller by removing the outer fabric cover and the layer of felt material from the core member and replacing these with a new layer of felt material and a new outer cover. This felt material is very expensive, as is the labor cost of such frequent reworking of these inking rollers and therefore the use of conventional inking rollers in aprinting apparatus is very expensive.

In addition, it has been determined that the silk or linen outer cover of these conventional inking rollers normally transfers the ink from the felt layer to the transfer roll of the printing apparatus in a screen-like pattern such that an uneven film of ink is deposited on the transfer roll and inferior printing by the printing apparatus frequently results. In applicants experience, it has been determined that such silkor linen outer covers do not readily transfer ink from the felt layer to the transfer roll in proper amounts, but rather serve as something of a barrier to limit the desired amounts of ink needed for proper printing. In addition, such covers do not readily pick up any excess ink on the transfer roll and therefore do not provide an even film of ink thereon.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an inking roller for a printing apparatus having increased useful life and which is more economical to use.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an inkin roller for a printing apparatus having considerably greater ink capacity than inking rolls heretofore available and wherein better transfer of ink from 3,158,095 Patented Nov. 24, 1964 the inking roller to the transfer roll of the printing apparatus is provided, including the removal of any excess ink from the transfer roll.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of a printing apparatus incorporating the inking roller of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section taken substantially along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view looking generally in the direction of the arrow 4 in FIG- URE 3 and with the outer covering of the inking roller removed for clarity.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a printing apparatus 10 of the type with which the inking roller of the present invention is adapted to be used. Printing apparatus 10 includes a printing cylinder 11 which is adapted to print suitable indicia on a web W passing therebeneath, a transfer roll 12 for transferring ink from an inking roller 13 to the printing cylinder 11, and a roller squeegee 14 rotating in contact with transfer roll 12 for smoothing the ink on transfer roll 12 prior to engagement of the transfer roll 12 with the printing cylinder 11.

Inking roller 13 preferably comprises a cyinder core member 15 including a tubular body member 16 and end members 17 mounted in tubular body portion 16 adjacent each end, but recessed inwardly therefrom for reasons to be presently described. End members 17 include openings in the central portion thereof which receive bearings 20 for rotatably mounting core member 15 on a suitable shaft 21.

Inking roller 13 also includes a tubular, multi-layer inner covering 22, which is formed of felt material. Preferably, inner covering 22 comprises first and second'concentric layers 23, 24, respectively (FIGURES 2 and 3), of the felt material which are formed into their tubular configuration from sheet material with the abutting end portions 23a, 24a thereof secured together by stitching as indicated at 24b in FIGURE 4. It is noted that first layer 23 is of such a diameter that the same surrounds core member 15 in a tensioned condition to thereby maintain first layer 23 on core member 15. Likewise, the second layer 24 is of such a diameter that the same tightly surrounds the first layer 23 and is in intimate engagement therewith.

An outer tubular covering 25 of woven cotton fabric surrounds outer layer 24 of inner covering 22 and is of sufiicient diameter to tightly enclose inner covering 22 in sandwiched relation between outer covering 25 and core member 15. Also, outer covering 25 is of greater length than inner covering 22 and core member 15 such that opposite end portions of the outer covering extend outwardly beyond opposite ends of inner covering 22.

The length of these projecting end portions of outer covering 25 is slightly greater than the thickness of inner covering 22.

Suitable draw strings 26 are provided at opposite ends of outer covering 25 for collapsing the end portions thereof around the ends of inner covering 22 and core member 15. It is noted that when the end portions of outer covering 25 are in collapsed position, the draw strings 26 will lie within the recessed end portions of the core member 15 to form a fiat ended or square roller.

As stated previously, the primary features to be provided by the inking roller of the present invention are greatly increased ink capacity combined with the ability Actual wool content At least 95 Standard thickness range A3 to 1 inch. Texture Fine Color White. Specific gravity 0.181.

Liquid absorption:

Absorption by Weight (1.0 specific gravity liquid) About 400%. Absorption by volume (porosity) 88%.

Capillarity, wicking height, 575 SSU 70 F., oil Tensile strength Hardness, Shore A Durometer, aver- 2.5 inches. At least 225 p.s.i.

age range -25. Compressibility, at 10% deformation 4 p.s.i.

Due to the desired feature of proper transfer or supply of ink to the transfer roll throughout the useful life of the inking roller, it has also been determined that the minimum overall or combined thickness of the felt layers in inner covering 22 should be about 0.672 inch to provide the maximum ink capacity with the best capillarity of ink to the outer covering 25. More particularly, in the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, there are two layers of the felt material and each of these layers are from 0.343 to 0.404 inch in thickness.

The outer fabric covering further enhances the transfer of ink from the felt material to the transfer roll. In this regard, outer fabric covering 25 is preferably formed of interwoven cotton warp and filling yarns and has a weave density of about 180 yarns per inch. Still more preferably, the warp and filling yarns are of combed cotton material to provide a very fine cotton fabric. It is noted that outer fabric covering 25 has excellent capillary action between the second layer 24 of felt material and the transfer roll 12 to transfer an even film of ink to the transfer roll, which film of ink is devoid of the undesirable screen-like pattern experienced with previous covers. Also, outer covering 25 functions to pick up any excess ink on the surface of the transfer roll 12 by its improved capillary action and therefore, an even film of ink is maintained on the transfer roll at all times.

While it might appear that a single layer of felt material of a thickness equal to the combined thickness of applicants multi-layer construction and having the aforementioned characteristics would perform substantially the same as applicants multi-layer construction, it has been determined by experimentation that such is not the case. In such a single layer of felt construction, the ink is neither readily nor evenly absorbed thereinto. In

this respect, it was determined that certain areas of the. single layer of felt material never received any ink thereinto. This was determined by an examination of various cross-sections of the felt material on an inking roller of this construction when the same was reworked after having been used a considerable period of time. In addition, such a single layer construction provides a lumpy inking roller and this is particularly true adjacent the seam formed where the ends of the felt material are secured together. These determined inherent deficiencies ventional inking rollers of this length. In addition, the

inking roller of the present invention provides improved ink transferring qualities since it has been determinedthat ink is evenly absorbed into all areas of the felt material. in addition, the multi-laycr construction of the present invention provides a smooth faced roller devoid of any lumps. Further, the fine texture of the felt material used in this multi-layer construction, the high capillary action between the layers of the felt material and between the second layer 24 of the felt material and the outer cotton fabric covering 25, and the improved capillarity of outer covering 25 further enhance the ink transferring qualities of the inking roller of the present invention.

It will therefore be apparent that an improved inking roller for a printing apparatus or the like is provided having greatly increased ink capacity without any undesirable bleeding or weeping. In addition, an improved ink transfer is provided from the inking roller to the transfer roll and the inking roller also functions to remove any excess ink from the transfer roll.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:"

1. An inking roller for use with a printing apparatus or the like comprising (a) a cylindrical core member adapted to be rotatably mounted on a printing apparatus,

(11) an inner tubular covering mounted on said core member in surrounding relation thereto and for rotation therewith and being adapted to contain a supply of ink for delivery to the printing apparatus, said inner covering comprising a plurality of concentric layers of felt material disposed in intimate relation with each other, each of said felt layers having a line texture, a specific gravity of 0.181, at least actual wool content, about 400% liquid absorption by weight of a liquid having a specific gravity of 1,000, about 88% absorption by volume of such a liquid, and a tensile strength of about 225 pounds per square inch, and

- (0) an outer covering of cotton fabric material surrounding said inner covering.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of felt layers have a minimum combined thickness of about 0.672 inch.

3'. The structure set forth in claim lwherein said inner covering comprises two layers of felt material, each of said layers being from 0.343 to 0.407 inch in thickness' 4. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein Warp and filling yarns, said fabric having a weave density of about yarns per inch.

5. An inking roller for use with a printing apparatus or the like comprising (a) a cylindrical core member adapted to be rotatably mounted on a printing apparatus,

(b) an inner tubular covering mounted on said core member in surrounding relation thereto and for rotation therewith and being adapted to contain a supply of ink for delivery to the printing apparatus, said inner covering comprising two concentric layers of felt material, each of said layers being from 0.343

said, outer covering comprises a fabric of interwoven cotton to 0.407 inch in thickness and each of said felt layers having a fine texture, a specific gravity of 0.181, at least 95% actual wool content, about 400% liquid absorption by Weight of a liquid having a specific gravity of 1.000, 88% absorption by volume of such 5 a liquid, and a tensile strength of at least 225 pounds per square inch, and

(c) an outer tubular covering of fabric material comprising interwoven cotton warp and filling yarns, said fabric having a weave density of about 180 10 yarns per inch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Goedike 29-132 Perkins 101367 X Morris 29-131 Mattie 15-562 Wonso 155 62 Leland 15562 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

Patent No, 3, 158,095 November 24 1964 John A, West et all,

It is hereby certified that err ent requiring correction and that th corrected below.

or appears in the above numbered pate said Letters Patent should read as Column 2 line 130 for "cyinder" read cylinder column 4, line 50, for "1,000" read 1,,000

Signed and sealed this 13th day of April 1965 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

5. AN INKING ROLLER FOR USE WITH A PRINTING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE COMPRISING (A) A CYLINDRICAL CORE MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON A PRINTING APPARATUS, (B) AN INNER TUBULAR COVERING MOUNTED ON SAID CORE MEMBER IN SURROUNDING RELATION THERETO AND FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND BEING ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A SUPPLY OF INK FOR DELIVERY TO THE PRINTING APPARATUS, SAID INNER COVERING COMPRISING TWO CONCENTRIC LAYERS OF FELT MATERIAL, EACH OF SAID LAYERS BEING FROM 0.343 TO 0.407 INCH IN THICKNESS AND EACH OF SAID FELT LAYERS HAVING A FINE TEXTURE, A SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF 0.181, AT LEAST 95% ACTUAL WOOL CONTENT, ABOUT 400% LIQUID ABSORPTION BY WEIGHT OF A LIQUID HAVING A SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF 1.000, 88% ABSORPTION BY VOLUME OF SUCH A LIQUID, AND A TENSILE STRENGTH OF AT LEAST 225 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH, AND (C) AN OUTER TUBULAR COVERING OF FABRIC MATERIAL COMPRISING INTERWOVEN COTTON WARP AND FILLING YARNS, SAID FABRIC HAVING A WEAVE DENSITY OF ABOUT 180 YARNS PER INCH. 